Tracker mechanism.



T. DANQUARD. TRACKER MECHANISM. APPLICATION nun JULY 14, 1906. RENEWED AUG. 24, 1908.

902,479. I Patented 0011, 27,190&- Y

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE,

THOMAS DANQUARD, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOPIANO (10., OF NEW YORK,

N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TRACKER MECHANISM.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Oct. 27, 1908.

Application filed July 14, 1906, Serial No. 326,161. Renewed August 2%, 1908. Serial No. &50,055.

'- York, in the county of New- York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Tracker Mechanism, of which the following 7 is a speg'fication.

In mechanical musical instruments and playing attachments formusical instruments,

it has been the ordinary practice to provide a tracker-bar with 65 channels corresponding to only 65 of the 88 keys of an ordinary piano.

This obviously limits the range of such me chanical pianos and players and consequently instruments have been built with a trackerbar provided with 88 channels, from which all the notes of the piano can be played. Obviously this n .CGSSltfLDGS the use of two kinds of music sheets, the great bulk of sheets already existing being made to use with tracker-bars having 65 channels.

The principal objects of the present inven tion are to. provide for using both kinds of sheets on the same piano without resorting to complicated and expensive mechanism for that purpose. "This. I accomplish by proyiding two tracker-bars preferably station-. cry and connecting the channels to a single set of primary pneumatics SlllllClCIli] in number to accommodate the 88 channels of one tracker-bar and by providing a cap plate adapted to close either set of channels and leave the other set in proper position for receiving the perforated paper and operating in the usual way.

Further objects and advantages of the ing 'vention will appear below.

. Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which, i

Figure l is a plan of one end, of an instrunient constructed in accordance with thcprinciples of my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a I fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in a different position.

The tracker-bar is usually placed between two rolls 10 and 11 for receiving and taking -,"up the music sheet. In a similar position but further away from the rolls so as to 'cause the paper to come away from the rolls at a greater angle to the line joining their centers, I locate a pair of tracker-bars 12 and 13. Each of these bars is provided with the usual channels 14 and one bar 12 is made in the form ordinarily employed in the majority openings in either of the tracker-bars.

of instruments at the present time, preferably with channels spaced in the ordinary way. The other bar 13 is provided with a larger number of channels, preferably 88 so that all of the keys can be manipulated from it.

The two trackenbars are fixed at a slight distance from each other and the lead tube connections are also stationary. Each of the tuflghsafrom the tracker-bar 13 which has the largest number, is connected with a primary pneumatic 15 through a suitable con nection 16. Each of the tubes connected with the channels of the bar 12 is led into a passage with which one of the tubes from the other tracker-bar is connected so that the number of pneumatics and connections 15 does not'havo to be increased beyond the number required for a tracker oar having the larger number of channels.

The operating mechanism controlled by the pneumatic 15 may be of any desired kind or character and does not constitute a part of the present invention.

From the description above given, it will be seen that each tracker-bar is to be used with one kind of music sheet, and that the tracker-bar which is not to be used at any time must be closed so that the channels will not conduct air to the pneumatics' and the other tracker-bar left open so that it can be used in the ordinary manner. It is for the purpose of, accomplishing this result that the tracker-bars are placed farther from the centersof the rolls than has heretofore been the case and for the same purpose they are given a greater angle on their upper surfaces; that is, each of the tracker-bars is slanted considerably so that the paper coming from or passing to the inner roll will pass over thesurface and at all times cover the channels therein so that the perforations in the paper can be depended on in the usual way to control the action.

For the purpose of simultaneously opening one set of channels and covering the other, a cap plate 17 is provided. This cap plate may be made of brass or any other suitable metal or material and is given such shape on the bottom that it will accurately coverlthe t is desired to move the cap plate back and forth as conditions require, to accomplish the desired result. For the purpose of conveniently holding the cap plate'in position and shifting it from one tracker-bar to the other,

I have shown it as mounted upon a pair of pivoted arms 18. Each of these arms has a screw projection 19 extending above the cap plate and a knob 20 whichscrews into this projection and. removably holds the cap plate in position on the arms 18. The arms project throu h slots 21 in the two trackenbars and it wilI be seen that a most convenient means is thus provided for quickly and efficiently opening the channels of one trackerbar for 0 eration and closing those of the other. T e ends of the slots 21 limit the motion of the arms 18.

In operation, the paper passes over one tracker-bar at such an angle that the channels are normally closed by the paper except where perforated and thenover the cap plate which covers the other tracker-bar. From a comparison of Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the paper will pass over the. proper tracker-bar at the desired angle in both positions of the cap plate, and that the idler rollers, which are often employed at the sides of the tracker-bar can be dis 'ensed with.

For the purpose of resiliently forcing the cap plate on the trackerbars springs 23 are provided, these springs being connected with the ca plate at one end andat the other with a bloc 22 which supports -the trmrker-bars and the arms 18. Owipg to the slant of the top of the tracker-bars the tension of the springs may increase as the cap plate is moved outwardly; thus making the cap plate fit more ti htly on the tracker-bar. It will be seen that from this construction, the

tracker-bars and cap plate will guide the paper so that Without idler rollers the music sheet will always be in proper position on one tracker-bar while the other is closed.

As the music sheet passes over the cap plate on the closed tracker-bar, it will be seen that the angle of the tops of the trackerbars and the thickness of the cap plate will be such that the cap plate will not lift the paper from the tracker-bar so as to expose the channels. Thus by a most simple and easily operated construction, the advantages of both kinds of tracker-bars are secured and parting from the scope of my invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown, but

That I do claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. The combination of a pair of stationary tracker-bars, and means for simultaneously closing the channels of one bar and opening those of the other.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a pair of stationary tracker-bars, each having channels, and a cap plate for closing the channels of one bar and simultaneously opening those of the other.

3. The combination of a plurality of stationary tracker-bars, and a movable cap plate adapted to close the channels in all of the bars alternately.

4. The combination of two stationary tracker-bars, and a cap plate pivoted to swing between said bars and to alternately close the channels thereof.

. 5. The combination of two tracker-bars, a

-foreing the cap plate against the surfaces of the bars.

7. The combination of a pair of trackerbars, a block upon which said bars 'are mounted, a pair of arms pivoted to said block at a point between the tracker-bars and below them, a cap plate mounted on said arms, and means for movably'securing the cap plate to the arms.

8 The combination of a pair of trackerbars having operaling surfaces slanted in o posite directions, a pair of arms )ivotally mounted adjacent to said tracker-bars and between them, a cap platemounted on said ,arms, and a pair of removable knobs for securmg the cap plate to the arms and for nnmipulating the cap plate.

9. .lhe combination of a pair of paper carrying rolls, a pair of tracker-bars located be tween the rolls, said tracker-bars having surfaces slanting oppositely toward the rolls and located out of the direct path of the )aper between the rolls, and a cap late adapted to cover either of said tracker- )ars and to guide the aper between one roll and the opposite trac er-bar. v

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS DANQUARD.

. Witnesses:

Josnrn W. BARTLETT, WM. P. COLLINS. 

